Thu 26th Oct 2006

Injury-hit Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell says his playing comeback is months away after recent groin and foot surgery in Sydney.

The Australian international says while his injuries are progressing well he won't get back onto the pitch until at least February.

Kewell has not played since putting Australia into the last 16 at the World Cup last June with an equaliser against Croatia in Stuttgart.
 
"It's going to be a while," Kewell told reporters here Thursday. "We're looking past February. I'm just itching to get back into playing."

Kewell has been blighted by injuries over the past two years including a catalogue of groin, foot, ankle, Achilles and hip complaints.

He continues to suffer from an arthritic condition in his left foot and last week had what he hopes will be the final operation on his troublesome groin.

"My foot is a bit sore at the moment and so is my groin," Kewell said.

"I just had that done last Friday, but the surgeons are very happy.

"I meet up with them again on Friday and if they give me the all clear then I'm back off to England.

"It's been a long hard thing for me, seven weeks so far, and I'm really looking forward to going home and seeing my family."

Kewell said he had no chance of playing Australia's next international against Ghana on November 14 at Loftus Road, but said he would try to make the trip to London to support his Australian teammates.

Kewell also said the Socceroos need a permanent "general" at the helm, rather than interim coach Graham Arnold.

"Graham's doing a good job, but it's not my decision, but again I think we need a great leader," he said.

"I think you need a leader in any team ... In football you need a general.

"My boss (Rafael Benitez) at Liverpool, he is that, and we need that for the Australian team to take us forward.

"Guus (Hiddink) was probably our best one we ever had, I thoroughly enjoyed working under him and I thought he was one of the best managers I've ever worked for and if we can get someone as half as good as him I think we'll go a long way."

AFP